26.2 pt II

Not gonna lie, but I was a little inebriated that last blog...what can ya do? So (almost a month later :P) I'm going to give thanks and relive my crazy Hawaiian adventure in detail.

Arrive at HI - 3 days til the race

I didn't really know what to expect but I didn't expect RAIN. I mean, really? I left the pacific northwest for Hawaiian sunshine. First run with the sisters = killer. It was barely 4 miles but I felt like I was eating the air. This was the day I started contemplating different excuses I could use to get me out of the race... yeah, I know. The highlight of the day: no cockroach sightings!



2 days til the race

Expo time. Picked up our numbers and goody bags. I would call them alright-I-guess bags. Trying to relax...but today's run was harsh. Only about 10 miles starting from Ala Moana, up around Diamond Head and back. I took three showers: one actual shower, one in the rain, one in sweat. Well, I guess you could say four counting the one I took after. My first experience with Diamond Head and it was not pleasant at all. Grandmas were passing me. Not to mention people who looked like they might as well be strolling on the beach instead of nearly crawling up the ginormous rock as I was. I guess it kinda helped when a couple of lifeguards passed us. Well, they didn't help Ann. Haha. One word from Gemma: leverage. WOW.



Day before the race

Freaking out. Ran Hawaii Kai loop. About 2.5 miles and was winded. The air is thicker than thick there. REALLY freaking out. Gem left her ipod on the trunk of Ann's car, Jamba Juice wheat grass shots and oj chasers, torrential rains, hunt for ponchos, endurance powder and the sweetest running mix.

RACE DAY

I think I only got 5 hours of sleep the night before. I added last minute songs, stretched, peed and we were on our way. Ponchos and all. Get to Ala Moana to find the largest group of Japanese people I've ever seen. Probably the largest crowd I've ever been in...that I can remember anyway. Fireworks went off at 5 am sharp to start us out. It was so pretty...

- Poured the first 3 miles
- Ran through the city lights. so many people stopped to take pictures
- Steady pace til about mile 8...the Diamond Head incline. Reached the top by sunrise, thank God.
- 13.1. Half way there! Feeling alive, feeling a little pain, feeling good. Sponges are my friend.
- Mile 17. Sun is up. We are ready to come down. I forever hate the Kahala highway..
- Mile 20. Walking. Knee is almost out of gas.
- Mile 24. Why the hell would they make us run up that stupid rock at the end of this crap? PAIN.
- Finish line in sight. VIVE LA VIDA!

Gemma Bacas
6:22:20

Annabelle Bacas
6:21:45

yours truly
6:22:19

I can't believe it! I was never so happy to sit down. Sometimes now I almost forget that I ran it. Like it was a dream. Next time I'm gonna kill this time. Hopefully! We all walked away with small aches but nothing serious. I just couldn't walk normally for about a week and Ann's toenail turned black. (It's still black and still attached to her toe which is pretty amazing.) Gem went on a 1000 step hike 2 days later. I'm really proud of them. We all then went to a lesbian bar and got rip roaring drunk. I had a great time and will remember it for the rest of my life.